Akita Rescue of Western NY, Inc. is a non-profit, charity organization that covers the northeast USA. ARWNY helps with saving & rehoming Akitas in need, as well as offering advice with health, nutrition, temperament and training of Akitas everywhere! Of course, we don't take the place of great vets or wonderful trainers/behaviorists but we are willing to help in any way we can!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Two Seniors are coming!

Lovey and Winter will be coming to ARWNY on Sunday. They were rescued in CT by Kim Holmes & have been staying at a kennel there until we had room at "Chez Dimon" in NJ. It was just discovered that they unfortunately suffer from Heartworm and LYME. Yet despite not feeling well and even with Winter having an ear infection, Kim their "foster mommy" in CT, has reported these two are special loving Akitas who are still enjoying life and both are affectionate and playful despite their ages of 9 and 11. She reports that Lovey especially has discovered the joy of toys -- playing happily with any toy given to her, throwing it in the air, running around with it in her mouth. Considering the hard lives these two have lived, its doubtful they had toys previously but now, in their senior years, they are enjoying them. We suspect we know who their breeder was that dumped them; the man who surrendered them had them living in a kennel area of his yard with no shelter, no dog houses, nothing but the frozen ground to lay on. Poor Winter, age 11, especially suffered with his arthritis but Lovey, age 9, did the best she could to keep him warm and shield him from the wind with her body. What a loving couple they are -- better than most human couples I know, eh? We could learn a lot from our Akitas' examples, folks!

Now there may be people who would ask -- why take on dogs this age when there are so many younger ones out there in need of a home? We ask ourselves daily this question yet the answer is always the same -- we do discriminate about Akitas with human aggression issues, with unprovoked bite issues -- but we cannot discriminate against Akitas with such great personalities due to their age. As long as they have quality of life -- and both do -- as long as they are healthy enough to enjoy life -- they are - then we feel we can work with them to find them a loving home who will let them live out their lives happily and safely. I'm considered a senior citizen and I would hope no one would want to throw me out the door based on my age (well Jenn probably does often but she never follows thru!) so how can I discriminate against an Akita due to age? We will treat the HW gently, take care of the LYME, clear up Winter's ear infection -- but now what we need is a permanent adopter or even a permanent foster home for these two loving sweet Akitas.

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About ARWNY and a bit about me

Nancy Lamm & Lynny Benzinger helped start ARWNY way back in 1996 but both were doing rescue since the late 70s; I started doing Akita Rescue in '86 first w/ ARSA, then w/ DVAR.
Joining ARWNY in '99 as VP/Director, I helped to expand ARWNY's territory over the next few yrs, from covering Western NY to almost the entire NE USA with the help of many wonderful volunteers! Over the years, I have watched the idea of rescue grow from a small, little-known concept to a source of pride & achievement within the Akita community; I'm proud to have been a part of this growth. I learned how to do rescue correctly by helping & volunteering, taking advice from fellow rescuers in Akitas & other breeds, as well as learning everything I could from wonderful Akita breeders & show people along the way.
I am proud of the work we do in ARWNY -- we have wonderful volunteers & supporters so it makes our work meaningful in so many ways!!
I currently reside w/my daughter Jenn, who is also part of ARWNY, & our newest adopted Akita Zeus, who came to us when our beloved BaeBae went "over the Rainbow Bridge" recently.

Video For JuJu & all abused Akitas

ARWNY ADOPTER VIDEO

ARWNY PICNIC VIDEO

Akita Club of America National Show

Some of our great adopters at the ACA Parade!

WELCOME TO ARWNY'S BLOG!!

Hopefully you will find this blog helpful in understanding the work rescue does in saving Akitas. The joy, the heartbreak, the decisions we all have to make when trying to save the lives of Akitas in peril. My hope is that you will realize how much time & effort goes into saving even just one Akita, let alone the many that ARWNY does save. Its wonderfully rewarding work but filled with heartbreak & dispair when we don't have room to help save Akitas in need or get involved with a puppymill situation, or take in a very ill, sick Akita like Wish, like Ben. We realize we can't save them all -- but we hope by reading this blog, you will all realize that we do a tremendous amount of work in saving those we are able to rescue!!